Partner 7: Azienda Ospedaliera Di Padova (AOP)

Clinical Centre

The Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova Clinical Center is a tertiary care centre closely linked to the University of Padova Medical School (also known as the University Hospital, Partner 5). AOP is one of the busiest hospitals in northern Italy and certainly the biggest and busiest in the north-eastern area. This hospital is a state of the art institution, where physicians are involved in both clinical and research activities equally.  

The Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit of Padua is part of this hospital. Although a separate legal entity, it collaborates within an overall framework with the University of Padova Medical School (Partner 5), and all tasks are performed in collaboration with the University itself. Partner 5 and Partner 7 are therefore taken together to act as one clinical centre in the framework of ESPOIR. The staff physicians of the pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit are renowned experts on surgical treatment of congenital heart disease in infants, children and adults. 

The current research on regenerative biomaterials and ventricular remodeling initiated together with UNIPD makes AOP eminently suitable for participation in ESPOIR. 

The Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova Clinical Center (AOP) will contribute as a member of the ESPOIR clinical network as well as UNIPD, collaborating with Partner 5 to implant a planned total of 25 DHV for pulmonary valve replacement within the clinical trial and will cooperate to procure homografts via domino transplantation. The AOP will be in charge of the clinical aspects of the ESPOIR project as well as UNIPD, and will also be involved in dissemination and exploitation of the ESPOIR results. 

Contributors to ESPOIR

Dr. Massimo Padalino, Senior physician, Pediatric & Congenital Cardiovascular Surgery Unit
Dr. Vladimiro Vida, Senior physician, Pediatric & Congenital Cardiovascular Surgery Unit